I am currently set to do my 2nd run through Mass Effect 2 (I didn't like the result I got as Zaeed died, crew died and based given to TIM (Which is a bad thing)). However I found myself missing Ashley throughout the game as her poverty really added something to the games.

However my Shepard left her on Virmie as if Kaidan was left alone he thought there might be a chance that the geth could disable the bomb. My Shepard missed Ashley but didn't have time to mourn the loss of the teammate as Saren was preparing to attack.

My Shepard only began to truly mourn her after meeting Kaidan again. Afterwards he couldn't help if there was something else he should have done.

I personally like both characters but Ashley seemed to be better to me as I learnt more about her: her sisters, dad, grandfather, reasons for joining the army. While Kaidan only seem to talk about: Jump Zero, biotics and his crush. It may be because my Shepard was romancing Ashley but it seemed to me that Ashley evolved as a character while Kaidan remained the same.

I am divided about this as one is one of my close friend while the other is someone who I care deeply about.

So I need the Escapists to help decide whichever one should be save. I wouldn't mind if you guys explained your answers. Cheers in advance.

Specieist Xenophobe or morose Carth Onasi 2.0? That's a tough one. They're both pretty bland characters, eclipsed only by the black hole of a personality that is Jacob. I'd go with Kaiden, because at least he's just being mopey, and not actively trying to kill your other teammates.

Let's see, a fundamentalist Christian and a xenophobe. On a inter-species team out to save the galaxy, led by a bisexual xenophile. Or the surprisingly stable psychic nice guy. Hm, at least Kaiden was accepting when I romanced Liara and friendzoned him. Pretty simple choice. Especially since I feel insulted by Ashleys armour, PINK?! Just, why?!... She is supposed to be regular infantry. Why is her armour white and pink?! >.<

Want a bland character? The only thing I remember about is being black, and I kept wondering "am I supposed to be interested in that?..." Especially when in the same game Garrus freaking Vakarian. *Drools*

The thing that I think most people dislike about Kaiden is that he's a grounded, pretty real character. Everyone else on the USS Daddy Issues that is the Normandy is either a massive space elite (Shepard him/herself is basically a Navy SEAL, Red Beret, SAS, JTF2, etc. several times over) or an archetype in some way. Kaiden kind of subverts that, in that he's been through a lot, but he tries to keep a level head about most of it.

Naturally, I think a lot of people see him as the downer on missions, since he is the most grounded person on the Normandy, so that just morphs into more general dislike.

Personally, I much prefer Kaiden's neutrality to Ashley's not-space-racism-but-space-racism. He really comes into his own as a character in ME3, and there are a lot of touching and funny moments.

Also, if you're worried about the Geth defusing the bomb, don't be. The outcome is the same no matter who you send to get nuked.

Also, protip? Most of Zaeed's stories end with "I was the only one who got out alive" for a reason. I love the guy dearly, but he isn't the best person to put in charge of other people.

Kaidan was pretty much a bro and he asked to be left there, I honoured his choice after some insistence, I don't really like Ashley a lot though, religious and xenophobic, she's one step away from fascist.

I save Ashley. Kaiden is a completely bland character in my opinion, if you asked me what was Kaiden's personality was like i would say cardboard, because that's the only thing i can think about when i try and explain him. True, Ashley's somewhat a total bitch but at least she had SOMETHING to work with.

OP: You saved Kaiden last time, so save Ashley this time for a little variety.

Angelowl:Let's see, a fundamentalist Christian and a xenophobe. On a inter-species team out to save the galaxy, led by a bisexual xenophile. Or the surprisingly stable psychic nice guy. Hm, at least Kaiden was accepting when I romanced Liara and friendzoned him. Pretty simple choice. Especially since I feel insulted by Ashleys armour, PINK?! Just, why?!... She is supposed to be regular infantry. Why is her armour white and pink?! >.<

Want a bland character? The only thing I remember about is being black, and I kept wondering "am I supposed to be interested in that?..." Especially when in the same game Garrus freaking Vakarian. *Drools*

Simply believing in god does not make one a fundamentalist. And xenophobe is a gross exaggeration. At worst, she distrusts aliens, but even that is developed into simply wanting the Alliance to be strong enough to not have to rely on them(and what with self-reliance being a core value of hers, this is hardly surprising). She's one of the few characters that has an arc of much substance, Garrus being the other. I also never understood how people take moral stands on Ashley, yet I never hear anything about Wrex. He's a gun-for-hire that shows little care for the deaths of innocents, yet no moral outrage over that.

chuckdm:Ashley. Because one of the best moments in ME3 (hey, it IS good UNTIL the end, I admit it) requires Ashley on the Normandy. Let's just say some girls handle their liquor better than others ;)

It's not a straw, it's an emergency induction port!

As for me, I saved both on separate playthroughs. I also didn't really pay either of them any attention the moment I got to use squadmates that were not them. Ashley was just too narrow-minded and Kaidan was just too...how do I put it, lukewarm? One of those guys who just slog through their days without much of a passion behind what they do.

I saved Kaiden. He may be bland, but Ashley had only one distinguishing feature, and that was being a xenophobe. I'd rather have a loyal blank sheet of paper on my side than a spunky character who I'm afraid might "accidentally" loose some friendly fire on the other members of the squad.

LetalisK: I also never understood how people take moral stands on Ashley, yet I never hear anything about Wrex. He's a gun-for-hire that shows little care for the deaths of innocents, yet no moral outrage over that.

hmmm, hard choice... They both have their moments, both good and bad. I'd say Ashley because I found her good moments in 3 better than Kaiden's (those girls on the Normandy sure know how to drink...) however that's just a preference.

I always liked Kaiden better. I found the events of his background to be much more interesting than anything Ashley had to say. He was troubled, but they only really come out when you start to pry into him. He had a lot of strong feelings, he is just rather soft-spoken.

Ashley on the other hand just struck me as just a generic soldier girl. Not bad really, but she didn't do anything to endear herself to me. Not my least favorite crewmember; given the option I would have sacrificed ME1's Liara to save Ashley in a heartbeat. Between the two though, Kaiden was just the more interesting character.

Anyway I say choose Kaidan. He is the more realistic character and he isn't as hostile to aliens and when ME3 rolls around he isn't as much of a dick to Shepherd. Ashley goes from a slight bitch to an uber cunt by 3.

Soviet Heavy:Specieist Xenophobe or morose Carth Onasi 2.0? That's a tough one. They're both pretty bland characters, eclipsed only by the black hole of a personality that is Jacob. I'd go with Kaiden, because at least he's just being mopey, and not actively trying to kill your other teammates.

Racist!

Anyways, I tend to go with Ash if playing as male Shepard and Kaiden as female Shepard. I don't even romance them, usually. I just like to have both sides when I play.

Kaiden Deffinetly When you play as a biotic character and really get into conversations with him he connected with my Shepard in a way only Garrus could come close to. Though they ruined the character in ME 2 and 3

I've saved both (depending on who's being romanced and whatnot), but im partial to kaiden because he's just so... nice. maybe not the best power in the war against the reapers, but still nice to have on your side. I also think its refreshing for the nice, kinda sappy one to be a dude for once (instead of a girl. seriously).

LetalisK: I also never understood how people take moral stands on Ashley, yet I never hear anything about Wrex. He's a gun-for-hire that shows little care for the deaths of innocents, yet no moral outrage over that.

Wrex hates, kills, maims and destroys everyone equally, that's why!

I think you may be joking, but I think there is more truth to this than people would think. They'd rather be allied with a murderer than a racist because the murder is fantastical and out there while the racism hits too close to reality.

Another theory I have is that Ashley and Kaiden are archetypal switches, Ashley being more masculine and Kaiden being more feminine(or at least what masculine and feminine entails in games), and that leads them to being considered a bitch and boring respectively.